John Neil

 By Kay McMeekin

John Neil had a son James with the girl next door in Peesweep Row, Lugar, Auchinleck in August 1861.  He signed the birth certificate, acknowledging himself as the father of the boy James. James was born at no 103 Peesweep Row the home of his mother Mary Jane McGowan and John Neil lived at no 102 in the 1861 census 4 months earlier.

John went on to marry Agnes Bryce on 15th October 1861 and they left immediately for Australia. Was the illegitimate child the motivating factor? He would be liable for aliment.

They sailed on the Jessie Munn  which sailed from London, stopping at Plymouth on 26th October arriving Brisbane 18 Jan 1862.  The authorities were apparently not well organised for their reception at Brisbane.  Agnes had their first child in March 1862, another reason for leaving?

Australian and New Zealand Gazette - Saturday 26 October 1861

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4603692 Trove

He went to the gold fields in Gympie Australia in 1867 with Agnes and children following on. John died Gimpie in 1911 and Agnes in 1932. (Obit for Agnes)

Meanwhile, the son left behind James Neil grew up with his mother's family and when his mother married he lived with them.  He played flute in the Cumnock Orchestra and was a commercial traveller in shoes and boots. He was a town councillor and the 17th Provost of Cumnock.  He was twice married and had 6 children. Two of this sons died in WW1. James died in Cumnock in 1950. His grandson George Scott 1923-2008 was a local historian.